Checking for Bugs: Difference between revisions

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# There are four types of vegetables and fruits with respect to checking bugs.
## Vegetables that the chance of finding a bug in a serving is less than a miyut hamatzuy of bugs is permitted and doesn't need to be checked at all.<Ref>Badei Hashulchan 100:46 citing Shulchan Aruch 84:8</ref>
## Vegetables that the chance of finding a bug in a serving is more than a miyut hamatzuy of bugs but less than 50% needs to be checked. This obligation is rabbinic.<Ref>Badei Hashulchan 100:46 citing Shach 84:26</ref>
## Vegetables that the chance of finding a bug in a serving is 50% needs to be checked and the obligation to check is Biblical. If it was cooked without being checked after the fact the food is permitted since it could be that there weren't bugs and it could be that the bugs were crushed.<Ref>Badei Hashulchan 100:46 citing Shach 84:35</ref>
## Vegetables that the chance of finding a bug in a serving is greater than 50% then they are forbidden until it is completely checked. If it was cooked without being checked it is forbidden.<Ref>Badei Hashulchan 100:46</ref>
# With regard to fruits that are supposed to be checked, checking the majority of the fruits is not enough to ascertain that the rest are kosher. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 46:36 </ref>
# With regard to fruits that are supposed to be checked, checking the majority of the fruits is not enough to ascertain that the rest are kosher. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 46:36 </ref>
# If one notices a dot (that is not moving) on a fruit or vegetable, but even someone familiar with insects cannot identify it as a bug without a microscope, it would be permitted. <ref> Halichos Shlomo Moadim (Pesach), pg. 176 and Shevet HaLevi 7:122 </ref>  
# If one notices a dot (that is not moving) on a fruit or vegetable, but even someone familiar with insects cannot identify it as a bug without a microscope, it would be permitted. <ref> Halichos Shlomo Moadim (Pesach), pg. 176 and Shevet HaLevi 7:122 </ref>  
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===Strawberries===
===Strawberries===
# The Star-K writes that one should wash the strawberries in soap water and agitate them in the water. Afterwards the tops should be cut off and no checking is required.<ref>https://www.star-k.org/checking. Rav Shlomo Amar in Shma Shlomo YD 7:4-5 5772 writes that the strict halacha is that any bug that's not visible to the naked eye is permitted and even if it is detectable by its movement it is permitted. Rav Amar explains from many poskim that anything which is so small that itisn't visible to the naked eye it is considered nothing in halacha and not forbidden. He explains that it isn't just because things which are so small are hard to discover and the Torah doesn't expect us to find them with microscopes. Rather they aren't considered anything of significance and are permitted. As such he thinks that strawberries don't need to be checked but it is proper to wash them in soap and water and remove the tops.
# The Star-K writes that one should wash the strawberries in soap water and agitate them in the water. Afterwards the tops should be cut off and no checking is required.<ref>https://www.star-k.org/checking. Rav Shlomo Amar in Shma Shlomo YD 7:4-5 5772 writes that the strict halacha is that any bug that's not visible to the naked eye is permitted and even if it is detectable by its movement it is permitted. Rav Amar explains from many poskim that anything which is so small that it isn't visible to the naked eye it is considered nothing in halacha and not forbidden. He explains that it isn't just because things which are so small are hard to discover and the Torah doesn't expect us to find them with microscopes. Rather they aren't considered anything of significance and are permitted. As such he thinks that strawberries don't need to be checked but it is proper to wash them in soap and water and remove the tops.
* Rav Amar quotes that the Yavetz 2:124 writes that checking for bugs in rice with a magnifying glass or in the sun is a reason to be strict but one shouldn't rule that it is forbidden. Pitchei Teshuva 84:5 and Machzik Bracha 84:41 cite this. Aruch Hashulchan 84:36 holds that seeing something in the sun is considered normal sight unlike seeing through a microscope. Shevet Halevi YD 7:125:2 writes that one has to be concerned with bugs that are visible to someone with good eyes even though a regular person couldn't see it.
* Rav Amar quotes that the Yavetz 2:124 writes that checking for bugs in rice with a magnifying glass or in the sun is a reason to be strict but one shouldn't rule that it is forbidden. Pitchei Teshuva 84:5 and Machzik Bracha 84:41 cite this. Aruch Hashulchan 84:36 holds that seeing something in the sun is considered normal sight unlike seeing through a microscope. Shevet Halevi YD 7:125:2 writes that one has to be concerned with bugs that are visible to someone with good eyes even though a regular person couldn't see it.
* Chayei Halevi YD 3:56:5 quotes that the Chazon Ish held that even bugs that aren't recognizable are forbidden and Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach agreed. Rav Amar argues that the Chazon Ish couldn't have said that. From his text Chazon Ish YD 14:6 it could be explained otherwise, only if it is once recognizable and whole but just not recognizable because it is mixed up is it not nullified.
* Chayei Halevi YD 3:56:5 quotes that the Chazon Ish held that even bugs that aren't recognizable are forbidden and Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach agreed. Rav Amar argues that the Chazon Ish couldn't have said that. From his text Chazon Ish YD 14:6 it could be explained otherwise, only if it is once recognizable and whole but just not recognizable because it is mixed up is it not nullified.

Revision as of 16:38, 25 November 2018

  1. There are four types of vegetables and fruits with respect to checking bugs.
    1. Vegetables that the chance of finding a bug in a serving is less than a miyut hamatzuy of bugs is permitted and doesn't need to be checked at all.[1]
    2. Vegetables that the chance of finding a bug in a serving is more than a miyut hamatzuy of bugs but less than 50% needs to be checked. This obligation is rabbinic.[2]
    3. Vegetables that the chance of finding a bug in a serving is 50% needs to be checked and the obligation to check is Biblical. If it was cooked without being checked after the fact the food is permitted since it could be that there weren't bugs and it could be that the bugs were crushed.[3]
    4. Vegetables that the chance of finding a bug in a serving is greater than 50% then they are forbidden until it is completely checked. If it was cooked without being checked it is forbidden.[4]
  2. With regard to fruits that are supposed to be checked, checking the majority of the fruits is not enough to ascertain that the rest are kosher. [5]
  3. If one notices a dot (that is not moving) on a fruit or vegetable, but even someone familiar with insects cannot identify it as a bug without a microscope, it would be permitted. [6]
  4. Most poskim hold that you do not need to use a magnifying glass to check for bugs. [7]
  5. Even though bugs are disgusting nonetheless it would make a mixture forbidden since it is a living creature and isn't nullified.[8]

Strawberries

  1. The Star-K writes that one should wash the strawberries in soap water and agitate them in the water. Afterwards the tops should be cut off and no checking is required.[9]

Links

Sources

  1. ↑ Badei Hashulchan 100:46 citing Shulchan Aruch 84:8
  2. ↑ Badei Hashulchan 100:46 citing Shach 84:26
  3. ↑ Badei Hashulchan 100:46 citing Shach 84:35
  4. ↑ Badei Hashulchan 100:46
  5. ↑ Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 46:36
  6. ↑ Halichos Shlomo Moadim (Pesach), pg. 176 and Shevet HaLevi 7:122
  7. ↑ Aruch HaShulchan YD 84:36, Iggerot Moshe YD II: 146, Halichos Shlomo, Moadim (Pesach) p. 176, and Yechave Daat 6:47.
  8. ↑ Pri Chadash 103:5 and Kaf Hachaim 103:5 unlike the Aruch Hashulchan 103:11. The Pri Chadash proves his point from the Rambam (Machalot Asurot 2:21). The Kaf Hachaim proves his point from the Shulchan Aruch 103:4 and Torat Chatat 85:24 (which was written by the Rama).
  9. ↑ https://www.star-k.org/checking. Rav Shlomo Amar in Shma Shlomo YD 7:4-5 5772 writes that the strict halacha is that any bug that's not visible to the naked eye is permitted and even if it is detectable by its movement it is permitted. Rav Amar explains from many poskim that anything which is so small that it isn't visible to the naked eye it is considered nothing in halacha and not forbidden. He explains that it isn't just because things which are so small are hard to discover and the Torah doesn't expect us to find them with microscopes. Rather they aren't considered anything of significance and are permitted. As such he thinks that strawberries don't need to be checked but it is proper to wash them in soap and water and remove the tops.
    • Rav Amar quotes that the Yavetz 2:124 writes that checking for bugs in rice with a magnifying glass or in the sun is a reason to be strict but one shouldn't rule that it is forbidden. Pitchei Teshuva 84:5 and Machzik Bracha 84:41 cite this. Aruch Hashulchan 84:36 holds that seeing something in the sun is considered normal sight unlike seeing through a microscope. Shevet Halevi YD 7:125:2 writes that one has to be concerned with bugs that are visible to someone with good eyes even though a regular person couldn't see it.
    • Chayei Halevi YD 3:56:5 quotes that the Chazon Ish held that even bugs that aren't recognizable are forbidden and Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach agreed. Rav Amar argues that the Chazon Ish couldn't have said that. From his text Chazon Ish YD 14:6 it could be explained otherwise, only if it is once recognizable and whole but just not recognizable because it is mixed up is it not nullified.
    • Rav Amar concludes that if one sees a dot on the strawberry but you can't identify what it is without a microscope or magnifying glass that is also permitted to eat. One doesn't even need to check if it is a bug. Furthermore, even if you see under microscope that it is a bug it is permitted.
    • Binat Adam 38:49, Aruch Hashulchan 84:36, Yachava Daat 6:47, Igrot Moshe EH 3:33, and Igrot Moshe YD 2:146 hold that bugs or bacteria that aren't recognizable to the naked eye are permitted to eat. Shemirat Shabbat Khilchata v. 1 ch. 3 fnt. 105 quotes Rav Shlomo Zalman as being strict on bugs that aren't visible because of what he heard about the Chazon Ish's opinion on bugs. Rav Amar quotes this and questions it.
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